Sewing machine cabinet



SEWING MACHINE CABINET Filed March 29, 1965 H6. 6 K 5 INVENTOR l 11 .105 r. pmso/vs r\ 5 73) Z! 3 BY United States Patent '0 3,297,387 SEWING MACHENE CABINET Ice T. Parsons, R0. Box 212, Osceola, Ark. 72370 Filed Mar. 29, 1965, fier. No. 443,343 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-290) This invention relates generally to sewing machine cabinets, and particularly to such cabinets used domestically to support and house the typical drop-head type sewing machine.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine cabinet having a sewing accessory compartment for conveniently holding and dispensing thread-wound spools or bobbins, or other sewing accessories.

A further object is to provide a sewing machine cabinet in which the sewing accessory compartment may be quickly and easily raised or lowered.

A further object is to provide a sewing machine cabinet having uncomplicated check means for supporting the accessory compartment, and a cabinet in which the accessory compartment may be readily manually manipu lated to a raised or lowered position.

A further object is to provide a sewing machine cabinet having an accessory compartment which may be raised to eye-level height, and to provide such a compartment which holds and displays the sewing accessories in a prominent and readily accessible way.

A further object is to provide a sewing machine cabinet having an accessory compartment which is substantially completely concealable and which is disposed underneath the top of the cabinet when not being used.

A further object is to provide a sewing machine cabinet having an accessory compartment which may be disposed prominently, yet does not hinder the sewing work or obstruct the sewing area.

A further object is to utilize the dead space in a sewing machine cabinet behind the drawers thereof.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction of sewing machine cabinets.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accom panying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sewing machine cabinet of the present invention with the sewing accessory compartment in a raised disposition.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the cabinet.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line llIlII of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the check means of the accessory compartment.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the accessory compartment in a raised disposition, with a fragmentarily shown portion of the cabinet top panel.

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 5, but with the accessory compartment being in a lowered disposition.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line VIIVII of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the sewing machine cabinet of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 11, and the sewing machine is indicated by the numeral 13. For the purpose of description, cabinet 11 will be defined as having a right, left, front and back side, with the front of the cabinet facing the viewer in FIG. 1, and the right and left sides of the cabinet being disposed respectively toward the right and left sides of the drawing.

Cabinet 11 includes a center top panel 15 and right and left top panels 17, 19, respectively. Suitable vertically extending support structures, including leg members 18, are provided for supporting top panels 15, 17, 19 at a desired height from the floor or cabinet supporting surface. Center top panel 15 includes, respectively, right and left portions 2-1, 23, front and back edges 29, 31, and upper surface 33. Hinge members 47 hingedly secure the right and left panels 17, 19 to the center panel 15.

Sewing machine 13 is supported from left portion 23 of center panel 15. The bed plate 47 of sewing machine 13 typically is fitted in an aperture 49 in top center panel 15. Hinge means, not shown, provided at the rear of bed plate 47, secure sewing machine 13 from the center top panel 15. Machine 13 typically may be folded downwardly beneath center panel 15 into a stored disposition. Wall structure, indicated generally by numeral 51, encloses or provides a compartment for the stored sewing machine.

A plurality of vertically spaced drawers 53 are arranged directly underneath right portion 21 of panel 15, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Support structure, generally indicated by numeral 55, slidably supports drawers 53 individually for fore and aft movement. The front boards 57 respectively of drawers 53 are disposed substantially in vertical alignment with front edge 29 of top panel 15. The horizontal depth respectively of drawers 53 is considerably less than the depth or fore and aft extending dimension of top panel 15.

A vertically extending upwardly opening chamber 59 is disposed at the back of drawers 53. The respective back walls 61 of drawers 53, the pair of upstanding drawer support panels 65, 65', and back panel 63 pro vide the structure defining chamber 59. Back panel 63 extends vertically from base member 67 at the bottom of drawers 53 to the undersurface of top panel 15. The outer or back surface 69 of panel 63 is substantially flush or perpendicular with the back edge 31 of top panel 15. An elongated U-shaped cutout is provided in top panel 15 at the back of drawers 53. Vertically extending transverse surfaces 71, 71 and longitudinally extending surface 73 define the marginal edges of the cut-out portion in top panel 15. The upper edge surface 75 of back panel 63 and surfaces 71, 71, 73 define the opening of chamber 59.

An upstanding sewing accessory compartment 77 is movably received in chamber 59. Accessory compartment 77 includes, basically, a pair of guide members 79, 79, a top member 81, a backboard member 83, and thread holding and dispensing means. indicated generally by the numeral 85. Guide members 79, 79 extend vertically and are disposed respectively adjacent surfaces 71, 71 of the opening of chamber 59. Top member 81 is fixedly secured respectively to the upper end surfaces of guide members 79, 79. The oppositely disposed end surfaces of top member 81 are respectively flush with the lateral surfaces 87, 87' of the respective guide members. Backboard member 83 is preferably of the same thickness as back panel 63 and is secured along the back surfaces of upstanding guide members 79, 79. Member 83 spans substantially the upper two-thirds portion of the area between upstanding guide members 79, 79'. Leg portions 89, 89 of guide members 79, 79' depend respectively below the bottom surface 91 of backboard member 83.

The thread holding and dispensing means includes two tray members 93 and two cross-members 95 vertically spaced and extending respectively between the upstanding guide members 79, 79. Tray members 93 include, respectively, recessed upper portions for holding sewing machine bobbins 97, spools of thread, or the like. A plurality of vertically extending and horizontally spaced spool-pins 99 are secured respectively along the upper surface of each cross-member 95. Each spool-pin 99 is adapted to rotatively secure a spool of thread 101'. A pin cushion 103 is secured along the upper surface of the lower cross-member 95 for holding needles, pins and the like.

Check means is provided for elevatingly supporting accessory compartment 77 against the force of gravity. A check tab 105 is pendantly afiixed along the lower outer surface 107 of backboard member 83 by a screw 109. Accessory compartment 77 is adapted to be optionally secured in a raised or elevated disposition by the engagement of tab 105 with the upper edge portion of back panel 63; or to be secured in a lowered and concealed disposition in chamber 59 with the bottom surface 111 of top member 81 engaging upper surface 75 of back panel 63, and the lower ends of leg portions 89, 89 engaging base member 67.

Top member 81 is preferably formed of the cut-out portion removed from top panel 15, in forming chamber 59. In the construction of accessory compartment 77, member 81 should be orientated to a position as it was when removed from top panel 15, to provide a neat fit when the accessory compartment 77 is in a lowered disposition, and to align the grain markings in the wood of member 81 with the markings of top panel 15. The bottom surface 113 of the lower cross-member 95 is preferably flush with the bottom surface 91 of backboard member 83. The head of screw 109 is preferably flush with the outer surface of check tab 105 to provide clearance for the accessory compartment 77 between the longitudinal surface 73 of the cut-out opening of chamber 59 and back panel 63. A finger grip recess 115 is provided along the lower back portion of top member 81. Recess 115 provides means whereby the user may readily raise accessory compartment 77 when it is in a lowered or concealed disposition.

When the seamstress or user of cabinet 11 desires to secure accessory compartment 77 in a raised disposition, the following simple actions are carried out: The user grasps top member 81 at recess 115 and raises accessory compartment 77 upwardly in chamber 59. Accessory compartment 77 is then moved rearwardly and downwardly to engage tab 105, and into a secured disposition with bottom surface 91 of backboard member 83 resting onupper edge surface 75 of back panel 63. To return accessory compartment 77 to a lowered disposition, the reverse of the above-described actions are carried out.

The sewing accessory compartment of the sewing machine cabinet of the present invention may be readily raised to an eye-level height and provides structure which holds and displays sewing accessories in a prominent and readily accessible manner. The accessory compartment is of substantially uncomplicated construction; it is simple to operate; and it is easy to raise or lower. It does not obstruct the sewing area when in either a raised or a lowered position. In summary, the present invention provides a very practical sewing machine cabinet.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine cabinet including portions thereof defining a vertically extending upwardly opening chamber with said portions including a vertical panel, a sewing accessory compartment slidably mounted in said chamber for vertical movement between a raised in-use position and a lowered position; said accessory compartment including means for holding sewing accessories, a pair of guide members respectively located on opposite sides of said means for holding sewing accessories, and a backboard member spanning said guide members; a check tab fixedly attached to said backboard member for removable engagement over the upper edge of said vertical panel to hold said accessory compartment in said raised in-use position, when said accessory compartment is in said raised in-use position said means for holding sewing accessories being exposed to view for removal and replacement of sewing accessories therein.

2. A sewing machine cabinet having a right, left, back and front side; said cabinet including a rectangular top panel having right and left portions, front and back edges, and a substantially flat upper surface; said top panel being elevatingly supported with said upper surface being disposed horizontally, structure defining an enclosure directly underneath said left portion of said top panel for housing a sewing machine, a plurality of vertically spaced drawers arranged directly underneath said right portion of said top panel, support structure supporting said drawers individually for fore and aft movement and with the front of said drawers being substantially in vertical alignment with said front edge of said top panel and with the horizontal depth of each of said drawers being less than the depth of said top panel, structure defining a vertically extending upwardly opening chamber at the back of said drawers with the opening of said chamber being defined in the upper surface of said right portion of said top panel; an upstanding accessory compartment received in said upwardly opening chamber and adapted for vertical movement therewithin said accessory compartment including vertically extending guide member means, a top member having a flat upper surface, thread holding and dispensing means fixedly arranged relative to said guide member means; and means for supporting said accessory compartment against the force of gravity in a raised in-use disposition, said accessory compartment being adapted to be optionally secured in a raised disposition for dispensing thread or to 'be secured in a lowered stored disposition in said chamber with the upper surface of said top member being substantially level with said upper surface of said top panel.

3. The sewing machine cabinet of claim 2 in which said thread holding and dispensing means of said accessory compartment includes a plurality of horizontally extending tray members fixedly arranged relative to said guide member means and respectively having recessed upper portions for receiving spools of thread or the like.

4. The sewing machine cabinet of claim 3 in which said thread holding and dispensing means of said accessory compartment includes a plurality of horizontally extending cross-members with each cross-member including a plurality of horizontally spaced spool-pins secured to and extending upwardly from each .cross member each of said spool-pins being adapted to rotatively secure a spool of thread.

5. A sewing machine cabinet having a right, left, back and front side; said cabinet including a rectangular top panel having right and left panel portions, front and back edges, and a substantially fiat upper surface; said top panel being elevatingly supported with said upper surface disposed horizontally, structure defining an enclosure direct ly underneath said left panel portion for housing a sewing machine, a plurality of vertically spaced drawers arranged directly underneath said right right panel portion, support structure slidably supporting said drawers individually for fore and aft movement and with the front of said drawers being substantially in vertical alignment with said front edge of said top panel and with the horizontal depth of each of said drawers being less than the depth of said top panel, structure defining a vertically extending upwardly opening chamber at the back of said drawers including a back panel extending along the back of said cabinet with said back panel including a horizontally extending edge portion, said edge portion defining the back margin of the opening of said chamber; an upstanding accessory compartment movably received in said upwardly opening chamber and adapted for vertical movement therewithin, said accessory compartment including a vertically extending pair of guide members, a top member having a flat upper surface, a backboard member, and thread holding and dispensing means fixedly arranged relative to said :guide member means; and means for elevatingly supporting said accessory compartment against the force of gravity including a check tab pendantly fixed to and rearwardly disposed on said accessory compartment backboard member, said accessory compartment being adapted to be optionally secured in a raised disposition by the engagement of said check tab with said edge portion of said back panel or to be secured in a lowered and concealed disposition in said chamber with said upper surface of said top member and said upper surface of said top panel being substantially in a common plane, and said accessory compartment being removable from said chamber.

6. A sewing machine cabinet having a right, left, back and front side; said cabinet including a rectangular top panel having right and left portions and including at least one hingedly mounted panel foldable over at least a portion of said top panel, front and back edges, and an upper surface; said top panel being elevatingly supported with said upper surface being disposed horizontally, structure defining an enclosure directly underneath said left portion of said top panel for housing a sewing machine, a plurality of vertically spaced drawers arranged directly underneath said right portion of said top panel, support structure slidably supporting said drawers individually for fore and aft movement and with the front of said drawers being substantially in vertical alignment with said front edge of said top panel and with the horizontal depth of each of said drawers being less than the depth of said top panel, structure defining a vertically extending upwardly opening chamber at the back of said drawers with the opening of said chamber being defined in said upper surface of said left portion of said top panel; an upstanding accessory compartment movably received in said upwardly opening chamber and adapted for vertical movement therewithin, said accessory compartment including a pair of parallel spaced and vertically extending guide members having back edges, a backboard member secured respectively along said back edges of and spanning said guide members, a top member having an upper surface with said top member being fixedly secured along the upper ends of said pair of guide members, at least one tray member, and at least one cross-member vertically spaced and respectively extending between said pair of guide members in fixed relationship therewith; said CIOSSIDCIIP ber including a plurality of horizontally spaced spool-pins extending upwardly and adapted to receive respectively a plurality of spools of thread, and check means for supporting said accessory compartment against the force of gravity, said accessory compartment being adapted to be optionally secured in a raised disposition by said check means for dispensing thread or to be secured in a lowered disposition in said chamber with said upper surface of said top member of said accessory compartment being substantially level with said upper surface of said top panel, when said accessory compartment is in said lowered disposition said hingedly mounted panel being adapted to be folded over said top member of said accessory compartment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 179,087 6/ 1876 Schmittner 3'12122 1,231,303 6/ 1917 Seligman 297- 1,242,916 10/ 1917 Brooks 312-201 1,392,595 10/1921 Pifko S156 2,019,455 1-0/ 1935 Lehman 312-312 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

5F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SEWING MACHINE CABINET INCLUDING PORTIONS THEREOF DEFINING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING UPWARDLY OPENING CHAMBER WITH SAID PORTIONS INCLUDING A VERTICAL PANEL, A SEWING ACCESSORY COMPARTMENT SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CHAMBER FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A RAISED IN-USE POSITION AND A LOWERED POSITION; SAID ACCESSORY COMPARTMENT INCLUDING MEANS FOR HOLDING SEWING ACCESSORIES, A PAIR OF GUIDE MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID MEANS FOR HOLDING SEWING ACCESSORIES, AND A BACKBOARD MEMBER SPANNING SAID GUIDE MEMBERS; A CHECK TAB FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID BACKBOARD MEMBER FOR REMOVABLE ENGAGEMENT OVER THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID VERTICAL PANEL TO HOLD SAID ACCESSORY COMPARTMENT IN SAID RAISED IN-USE POSITION, WHEN SAID ACCESSORY COMPARTMENT IS IN SAID RAISED IN-USE POSITION SAID MEANS FOR HOLDING SEWING ACCESSORIES BEING EXPOSED TO VIEW FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF SEWING ACCESSORIES THEREIN. 